It was moved and seconded that the minutes of the May 10, 2004 meeting be approved as written. Motion carried unanimously.

III. Election of Secretary

It was moved and seconded that Gerald Alter be reappointed as Secretary of the Graduate Council for 2004-05. Motion carried unanimously.

IV. Report by Faculty President (Drew Pringle)

Faculty Senate is having a good year. The Quadrennial Review Committee is meeting this year to consider changes in the Faculty Constitution. One topic is the quarterly General Faculty Meeting and a proposal to institute a secure web site for a faculty vote on changes in the Faculty Constitution.

V. Report of the Dean (J. Thomas)

Dean Thomas welcomed Sulabh Mohan as the Student Government Representative.

The four standing committees of the Graduate Council and their 2004-05 chairs are: Policies Committee (D. Orenstein, Chair), Membership Committee (R. Grubbs, Chair), Student Affairs Committee (N. Klingbeil, Chair), and Research Council (J. Thomas, Chair). J. Petrick will replace R. Grubbs as Chair of the Membership Committee after fall quarter, 2004. The memberships of these committees were listed.

A summary of fall enrollment from 2000 to 2004 was presented. Over this period, graduate headcount increased 11.9% and graduate credit hours increased 26.1% (excluding School of Medicine and School of Professional Psychology whose enrollments are capped). For fall 2004, however, there was a 2.9% decrease in graduate headcount from fall 2003. It is important to enhance recruiting so that this does not become a trend.

Of the 1,906 students enrolled full time for fall 2004, 690 receive financial support; 544 as Graduate Assistants (these numbers are adjusted from those presented at the meeting), eight as Graduate Council Scholars, and 139 students receive Tuition Scholarships only. There was a decrease this fall in Graduate Research Assistants related to several major research programs ending and a decrease in international graduate students.

In regard to recently approved programs, nineteen students are enrolled in the new Master of Public Health program for fall 2004. The Certificate in Scientific Computation was approved by Faculty Senate in September, 2004. The program development plan for a Master of Information Systems is presently in the RACGS review process. A reading committee for the full proposal is planned. The Master of Arts in International and Comparative Politics was approved by the WSU Trustees in October, 2004.

An internal search for a full time Associate Dean, School of Graduate Studies is announced. It is anticipated that the position will be filled by January, 2005.

VI. Report of the Provost (D. Hopkins)

Provost Hopkins expressed gratitude to the Council members for their accomplishments in regard to new program development and recognized the achievements in sponsored research. The Strategic Plan is under continuous scrutiny and is being closely tied to budget augmentations. The budget looks good this year but there is concern for next year. Small enrollment increases are essential. This year WSU’s enrollment increase ranks third in Ohio, which has been helpful. It is important to not let the slight decrease in graduate headcount for 2004 continue. Accordingly Provost Hopkins will provide $20,000 to be administered by the School of Graduate Studies for targeted graduate recruitment efforts. The University is moving forward on several strategic investments including seeking new faculty members. However, some of the new initiatives are being funded by savings so there is a need to seek ways to be cost efficient.

VII. Committee Reports

Policies Committee (D. Orenstein)

The Committee met October 15 and October 22 and discussed and acted upon the following issues:

A program linking the bachelor’s degree in Accountancy with the Master of Accountancy (M. Acc.) was approved by the Committee. Students will be accepted to a master’s “transition program” at the beginning of the senior year, allowed to take four courses (16 cr. hr.) for graduate credit, and are guaranteed admission to the M.Acc. for a specific quarter assuming the undergraduate program is successfully completed. This further accommodates the recent change requiring 235 credit hours to take the CPA exam.

The “transition program” required changes in the policy on Senior Permission to allow more than the current limit of 12 credits and to begin graduate coursework before completing 162 credits. Language was proposed to allow seniors to take graduate credits either according to the current guidelines or for students accepted into an approved Transition Program. The proposed change was moved, seconded, and approved unanimously.

The Master of Humanities program has developed an emphasis in modern languages. This fits within the currently approved degree requirements so no further approvals of program changes are needed. However, the emphasis envisions the transfer of 12 credit hours from a foreign university whereas the current Graduate Council policy only allows transfer credits from regionally accredited US universities. A change in the transfer credit policy to also allow transfer credits from foreign universities previously approved by a program and the Policies Committee was moved and seconded. Following discussion, the language was amended for clarity and approved unanimously.

A Graduate Certificate Program in Innovation and Entrepreneurship in High Technology, a joint offering by the College of Engineering and Computer Science and the Raj Soin College of Business, was approved by the Committee and recommended to the Council. It was moved and seconded to approve the Certificate Program. Following discussion, it was approved unanimously. The Program will now be submitted to Faculty Senate as new business.

The Graduate Council was informed of other Policies Committee business. (1) Tracks entitled Technology-based Learning with Disability were approved in the biomedical sciences, computer science and engineering, engineering, and human factors & I/O psychology PhD programs. Students will complete all requirements for the PhD program as well as interdisciplinary studies in learning with disabilities. This is in anticipation of receiving a $3.2 million NSF Integrated Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) award. It builds on Wright State’s long reputation of accommodating disabled students. (2) The Committee approved a change in the degree requirements for the MA in History to move from anExamination Plan to a Course Intensive Plan. (3)Discussion has been initiated on limiting the number of hours of credit by examination that can be applied to a degree program. (4) The Committee is reviewing a proposal to add a Communications Track to the Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree.

Membership Committee (R. Grubbs)

The Committee met May 26 and October 21, 2004 and considered and recommended 13 nominations for full graduate faculty membership and six nominations for adjunct full graduate faculty membership.

The full member nominees are:

Green, December

Pol Sci/CoLA

Henderson, Richard

Anat & Physio/S&M

Killian, Jerri

Urban Afrs & Geography/CoLA

Kozlowski, Gregory

Physics/SoM

Lee, Daniel

CS & E/EGR&CS

Luehrmann, Laura

Pol Sci/CoLA

Patrick, Steve

BMB/SoM

Pei, Yong

CS & E/EGR&CS

Petkie, Doug

Physics/CoLA

Seitz, David

English/CoLA

Subban, Jennifer

Urban Afrs & Geography/CoLA

Wenning, Mary

Urban Afrs & Geography/CoLA

Young, Henry

MME/EGR&CS

The adjunct full member nominees are:

Alam, M. Khairul

MME/EGR&CS

Hussain, Saber

Pharma & Toxi/SoM

Kobryn, Pamela

MME/EGR&CS

Layne, Jeffrey

EE/EGR&CS

Riechers, Ronald

EE/EGR&CS

Sanders, Jeffrey

MME/EGR&CS

It was moved and seconded that the nominees be approved; the motion passed unanimously.

In response to a question, R. Grubbs replied that credentials that are considered by the Committee when reviewing applications for full graduate faculty status include graduate level teaching, evidence of active scholarship such as publications and research funding, and student committee involvement. If the nominee is a junior member of the faculty hired specifically to strengthen a graduate program, a strong letter of support from the department chair can be substituted for graduate teaching and mentorship experience.

VI. Research Report (W. Sellers)

For the first time, over $50 million in external support was received during 2003-04. About $27 million of this was for research and $24 million was from Federal agencies. Federal funding was predominately from NIH and DoD. It was suggested that good opportunities are available at other agencies such as NSF, DoE, and DoEd, and NASA and should be pursued.

The deadline for submitting Research Challenge Early Start/Augmentation proposals is Wednesday, November 3. Eligible faculty members have been notified.

The Research and Sponsored Programs New Faculty Orientation was held in October, with limited attendance. W. Sellers solicited suggestions for higher attendance at future orientation presentations. If an interest exists, Research and Sponsored Programs is considering hosting a Scholarly Proposal Writing Workshop.

VII. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:00 p.m.